Vol. 527 No. 5
101 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Health and Children the efforts that have been made to date by his Department and other Government Departments to have the new proposed EU food safety headquarters based in Ireland. [24149/00]
Following the publication by the European Commission of the White Paper on Food Safety in February 2000 and subsequent responses from each member state and other interested parties, the European Commission adopted a proposal to establish a European Food Authority, EFA, on 8 November. This is part of a wider package contained in a "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council, laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Authority, and laying down procedures in matters of food safety". Discussions of EU level on this proposal have just begun.
My Department is in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other relevant Departments on the question of putting Ireland forward as a candidate country for the authority. Departments are in agreement that in considering this matter a number of factors need to be borne in mind such as one of the criteria laid down by the Commission for the location of the authority is centrality, ease of access and the existing location in Ireland of the Commission's food and veterinary office.
At present, there are three officially declared candidates – Helsinki, Barcelona and Parma. No final decision has been taken on Ireland's possible candidature.
